Removable and Interchangeable Outer Pocket Wall

ABSTRACT

A mechanism whereby pants, particularly women&#39;s denim jeans, can be customized by the user makes use of interchangeable rear outer pocket walls. The pockets differ in their embellishments on the outer pocket wall but not in the size of the outer pocket walls. Embellishments are not limited to those that can be washed with the rest of the garment, as the outer pocket walls can be removed for the washing process.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA

This is the non-provisional application of provisional application No. 60/744,504, filed on Apr. 9, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a way that the outer fabric layer of pockets can be made interchangeable so as to achieve different looks with the same garment, as well as making it easier to clean the garment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well known that decorations and fine embellishment, such as beadwork, or intricate stitching, is common on women's clothing. It has become a popular trend nowadays for such embellishments to be used on the back pockets of women's denim jeans. Oftentimes purchasers of such jeans will buy numerous pairs of jeans in the same style, which substantially differ only in the color or design of the embellishments on the back pockets. Furthermore, denim designers are limited in the types of beads and other embellishments that they can use on the back pockets because not all are suitable for frequent washing, especially in washing machines.

Removable pockets have been previously described for the purpose of customization of a garment or bag, or for the easy replacement of a worn out pocket. They are designed so that an entire pocket (with both walls) can be removed and replaced. In cases where some designs permit the removal of only the outer wall, it is for the purpose of customizing a bag or garment but is not interchangeable with another outer pocket wall which differs only in the embellishments on it.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is needed in the art is a way by which consumers can own a single pair of pants in a particular style that has a simple mechanism for them to remove the outer pocket wall of certain pockets, and attach other outer pocket walls containing different stitching, colors or embellishments. With such a product, consumers would be able to achieve multiple looks with the same pair of pants. They could additionally purchase extra outer pocket walls for use with their pants. Furthermore, because the outer pocket walls, with their embellishments, can easily be removed; the denim designers would be able to create more intricate designs and use a wider variety of embellishments as they would not be limited by those items that can withstand frequent washing.

In some embodiments of the present invention it may be necessary to limit or completely obliterate the functionality of the pocket, in order to secure the outer wall of the pocket securely. While it is preferable to have functional back pockets, these pockets are oftentimes not utilized, and it may be perfectly acceptable to some consumers to forego the functionality of the back pockets in order to have the flexibility to alter its style dynamically. In these cases, the interchangeable pieces of removable material are not strictly outer walls of pockets, but rather the outer walls of pockets in appearance. Such arrangement and mechanism is still considered to be within the scope of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Back pockets of standard denim jeans.

FIG. 2. Back of denim jeans with snap fastened outer pocket walls.

FIG. 3. Back of denim jeans with snap and “hook and loop” fastened outer pocket walls.

FIG. 4. Back of denim jeans with “hook and loop” fastened outer pocket walls.

FIG. 5. Back of denim jeans with snap and zipper fastened outer pocket walls.

FIG. 6. Back of denim jeans with “hook and loop” fastened outer pocket wall appearance.

FIG. 7. Back of denim jeans with framed piece of removable fabric giving outer pocket wall appearance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention is applicable to any garment, but is particularly suitable to women's denim jeans because women's denim jean design places particular emphasis on the designs and embellishments of the external aspect of the outer walls of the back pockets. With the present invention, a woman may purchase a single pair of jeans and purchase additional back pockets that are compatible with her pair of jeans, thereby achieving a variety of looks by interchanging the back pockets according to the colors and style she wishes to achieve wear on a particular day. Furthermore, before washing her jeans in a washing machine, she can easily remove the back pockets from the jeans so that intricate needlework or other embellishments will not get ruined in the washing process. After washing, she can easily reattach the back pockets.

With reference to FIG. 1, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 100 is represented. The belt area 104 with belt loops 106 and back pockets 102 are shown. Embellishments 110 on the back pockets are represented. Such embellishments 110 may comprise intricate needlework, crystals, sequins, studs, or other types of decorations. The back pockets have stitching 108 which firmly attaches them to the underlying fabric.

With reference to FIG. 2, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 200 is represented. The belt area 204 with belt loop loops 206 is shown. The left back pocket 202 is shown with its outer wall in place. It has stitching around the border 208 but the stitching does not attach it to the underlying fabric of the pants, instead it maintains the folded position of the fabric on the edge of the outer pocket wall, that can be used to facilitate the concealment of components of the snap fastener apparatus. On the outer aspect of the left back pocket 202 are embellishments 210. The right back pocket region 212 is missing its outer wall. Components of snap fasteners 214 can be seen on the fabric in the right back pocket region 212. When the outer pocket wall is applied to the right back pocket region 212 such that the complement of the components of the snap fasteners 214 being attached to said outer pocket wall are aligned and pressed together, then the outer wall of the right pocket will be held in place and will look in appearance like that of the left back pocket 202 illustrated in this figure. Of note is the concealed nature of the snap fastener apparatus, such that it is not possible to see any component of the snap fastener apparatus when the outer pocket wall is in place. This type of concealment is typically achieved by those with skill in the art by folding the edge of the fabric.

With reference to FIG. 3, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 300 is represented. The belt area 304 with belt loop loops 306 is shown. The left back pocket 302 is shown with its outer wall in place. It has stitching around the border 308 but the stitching does not attach it to the underlying fabric of the pants, instead it maintains the folded position of the fabric on the edge of the outer pocket wall. On the outer aspect of the left back pocket 302 are embellishments 310. The right back pocket region 312 is missing its outer wall. Components of snap fasteners 314, as well as “hook and loop” strips 316 can be seen on the fabric in the right back pocket region 312. When the outer pocket wall is applied to the right back pocket region 312 such that the complement of the components of the snap fasteners 314 being attached to said outer pocket wall, and the complement of the “hook and loop” strips 316 also attached to said outer pocket wall are aligned and pressed together respectively, then the outer wall of the right pocket will be held in place and will look in appearance like that of the left back pocket 302 illustrated in this figure.

With reference to FIG. 4, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 400 is represented. The belt area 404 with belt loop loops 406 is shown. The left back pocket 402 is shown with its outer wall in place. It has stitching around the border 408 but the stitching does not attach it to the underlying fabric of the pants, instead it maintains the folded position of the fabric on the edge of the outer pocket wall. On the outer aspect of the left back pocket 402 are embellishments 410. The right back pocket region 412 is missing its outer wall. “Hook and loop” strips 414 can be seen on the fabric in the right back pocket region 412. When the outer pocket wall is applied to the right back pocket region 412 such that the complement of the “hook and loop” strips 414 being attached to said outer pocket wall are aligned and pressed together, then the outer wall of the right pocket will be held in place and will look in appearance like that of the left back pocket 402 illustrated in this figure.

With reference to FIG. 5, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 500 is represented. The belt area 504 with belt loop loops 506 is shown. The left back pocket 502 is shown with its outer wall in place. It has stitching around the border 512 but the stitching does not attach it to the underlying fabric of the pants, instead it maintains the folded position of the fabric on the edge of the outer pocket wall. On the outer aspect of the left back pocket 502 are embellishments 514. On the top border of the left back pocket 502, a fastened zipper 508 aids in holding the outer pocket wall in place. It has been fastened using the zipper handle 510. The right back pocket region 516 is missing its outer wall. A top half-zipper 518 is represented on the top border of the back right pocket, together with its zipper handle 520. Additionally, there are components of snap fasteners 522 that can be seen on the fabric in the right back pocket region 516. When the outer pocket wall is applied to the right back pocket region 516 such that the complement of the components of the snap fasteners 522 on said outer pocket wall are aligned and pressed together, and the complement of the top half-zipper 518 being attached to said outer pocket wall is lined up and zipped together with it by means of the zipper handle 520, then the outer wall of the right pocket will be held in place and will look in appearance like that of the left back pocket 502 illustrated in this figure. While the pockets attached in this manner may be functional when the zipper is opened, it is more likely that the zipper will remained closed and keep the outer wall of the pockets securely attached to the underlying fabric.

With reference to FIG. 6, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 600 is represented. The belt area 604 with belt loop loops 606 is shown. The left back pocket 602 is shown with its outer wall in place. It has stitching around the border 608 but the stitching does not attach it to the underlying fabric of the pants, instead it maintains the folded position the fabric on the edge of the outer pocket wall. On the outer aspect of the left back pocket 602 are embellishments 610. The right back pocket region 612 is missing its outer wall. A “hook and loop” pad 614 can be seen on the fabric in the right back pocket region 612. When the outer wall is applied to the right back pocket region 612 such that the complement of the “hook and loop” pad 614 being attached to said outer pocket wall are aligned and pressed together, then the outer wall of the right pocket will be held in place and will look in appearance like that of the left back pocket 602 illustrated in this figure. While this has been described as a pocket, it is not strictly a pocket because of its sealed an non-functional nature, and rather simply gives the appearance of a pocket.

With reference to FIG. 7, an illustration of the rear aspect of denim jeans 700 is represented. The belt area 704 with belt loop loops 706 is shown. The right back pocket 712 contains a pocket frame that contains a top border 714 which is unattached to the underlying fabric, and the rest of the borders that containing stitching 716 attaching it to the underlying fabric. The stitching 716 is on the periphery of the right back pocket 712. The right back pocket 712 does not contain any insert, but is merely an empty frame with a hollow center such that the underlying fabric 718 can be seen through it. When an insert is slid through the free top border 714, much like a picture is inserted into a picture frame; the outer wall of the insert is visible. This is illustrated in the left back pocket 702, which contains the same stitching on the periphery 708 that attaches it to the underlying fabric of the pants, but additionally contains an insert with embellishments 710 that has been slid into place. No fastening devices need to be used because the fabric insert is bigger than the aperture created by the pocket borders, so it cannot fall out. While this has been described as a pocket, it is not strictly a pocket because of the weakness of the outer pocket wall, but it effectively gives the appearance of a pocket.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a particularly preferred embodiment and alternative embodiments, the invention is susceptible to implementation in further ways which are within the spirit of the invention. 

1. A customizable pants system, comprising: pants having at least one permanently fixed inner pocket wall; said pants having at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall; a plurality of outer pocket walls that are essentially the same in shape and form, but differ in the appearance of their outer aspects; and said outer pocket walls having attachment mechanisms that are permanently fixed to part of the perimeters of said outer walls and that couple with the attachment mechanisms that are permanently fixed to said pants.
 2. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall, and the attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of one of the said outer walls together constitute a snap fastener mechanism.
 3. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall, and the attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of one of the said outer walls together constitute a “hook and loop” fastener mechanism.
 4. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall, and the attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of one of the said outer walls together constitute a zipper mechanism.
 5. The customizable pants system as in claim 1, wherein the at least one attachment mechanism that is permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall is a plurality of attachment mechanisms that are permanently fixed to part of the perimeter of said inner pocket wall.
 6. The customizable pants system as in claim 5, wherein the types of said attachment mechanisms are all of the same type.
 7. The customizable pants system as in claim 5, wherein the types of said attachment mechanisms are not all of the same type.
 8. The customizable pants system as in claim 7, wherein the types of said attachment mechanisms comprise a zipper mechanism and a stud fastener mechanism.
 9. Customizable pants, comprising: a permanently attached frame, said frame being similar in appearance to the perimeter of a standard outer pocket wall; and a piece of fabric which is inserted into said permanently attached frame, said piece of fabric being similar in appearance to a standard outer pocket wall.
 10. A customizable pants system, comprising: pants with a permanently attached frame, said frame being similar in appearance to the perimeter of a standard outer pocket wall; and a plurality of pieces of fabric which can be inserted into said permanently attached frame, said pieces of fabric being similar in appearance to the outer aspect of a standard outer pocket wall.
 11. A customizable pants system, comprising: pants with at least one permanently attached attachment mechanism; a plurality of pieces of loose fabric, said pieces of loose fabric being similar in appearance to the outer aspect of a standard outer pocket wall; and attachment mechanisms permanently attached to said pieces of loose fabric which can attach to the at least one attachment mechanism on said pants.
 12. A customizable pants system as in claim 11, wherein said attachment mechanisms permanently attached to said pieces of loose fabric and said at least one permanently attached attachment mechanism on said pants together constitute a stud fastener mechanism.
 13. A customizable pants system as in claim 11, wherein said attachment mechanisms permanently attached to said pieces of loose fabric and said at least one permanently attached attachment mechanism on said pants together constitute a “hook and loop” fastener mechanism. 